iPhone firmware 2.2.1 released, unlockers beware (updated 3x)

Apple released firmware v.2.2.1 (build 5H11a) for the iPhone and iPod touch at 11:00 am today, which provides "improved general stability of Safari" and fixes an issue where images saved from Mail do not display correctly in the Camera Roll, according to the release notes.

Apple released firmware v.2.2.1 (build 5H11a) for the iPhone and iPod touch at 11:00 am today, which provides "improved general stability of Safari" and fixes an issue where images saved from Mail do not display correctly in the Camera Roll, according to the release notes.

The 246MB file (direct link) can be downloaded in about 20 minutes by connecting your device to iTunes and clicking "check for update."

Apples "hundredths" decimal place updates (like 2.2.x) are usually bug fix releases and thus relatively minor. Don't get too excited, 2.2.1 doesn't appear to contain anywhere near the amount of features (and hype) that the 2.2 update did (a "tenths" decimal place update).

But, as usual, there's a lot more under the hood than Apple is letting on. According to reports from first installers Apple's 2.2.1 firmware appears to break the iPhone Dev Team's vaunted unlock, yellowsn0w:

Hold your horses!

There is an iPhone and iPod update available in iTunes - it is numbered 2.2.1 (5H11a).

Please DO NOT update. We will investigate and report back to you ASAP.

there are early indications that today's 3G firmware update (2.2.1_5H11) will break yellowsn0w -- do not install it

only upgrade only through custom firmware that prevents the baseband update -- NOT official firmware

Unfortunately, 2.2.1 doesn't appear to include push notifications as had been rumored, or any of the other laundry list of cliche list of embarrassing iPhone omissions. (Sing it with me: No cut and paste. No push notifications (promised for Sept 08). No MMS. No A2DP.)

I wish that Apple would spend more time developing iPhone features instead of wasting time on stupid counter-measures designed to thwart the unlock/jailbreak community. Apple will never win that cat and mouse game and risks losing customers to Google, RIM and heck, even Palm.